How to Fix an iPad Charging Slow + Battery Health Tips

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Quick ways to speed up your iPad charging
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Is your iPad charging considerably slower? This could be due to the wrong charging block, cable, or even some settings on your iPad. Luckily, there are ways to boost your charging speed. Here's what to do if your iPad is charging slowly and how to maintain battery health.

How to Get an iPad to Charge Faster

  • Use a 12W or higher charging block.
  • Don't use your iPad while it's charging.
  • Close any background apps and pause downloads.
  • Turn on Airplane Mode as it charges.
  • Decrease your screen's brightness.
Section 1 of 4:

Fixing Slow Charging

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  1. Make sure to use a 12W or higher power adapter. This is the large charging cube, and it's different from the smaller 5W charging cube that previously came with iPhones.
    • If you have an iPad Pro, it's recommended to use the 20W charging block.
    • If you're already using a large charging block, try a different outlet.
  2. If your iPad isn't charging, it could be an issue with the cable itself. It could have frayed wires or weak connectors, which can impact the power that flows into your iPad.
    • If you don't have a spare, make sure to purchase a new cable from the Apple store or an Apple-certified retailer.
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  3. If you're charging the iPad while playing an app or browsing the internet, it may seem that it is charging slowly. In reality, the power gained from the charge is being offset by the power needed to run the apps.
  4. Airplane Mode may save battery and charge your iPad more quickly. When Airplane Mode is active, features such as Bluetooth and Wi-Fi are disabled. This can prevent app notifications, device usage, and other battery-draining tasks.
    • Keep in mind that you won't receive any calls or messages while in Airplane Mode .
  5. If you have automatic updates turned on, you may have apps downloading without knowing it. You can check by swiping left to view your App Library. Any apps currently updating will show a download meter.
    • You can tap an app to pause the download or wait until they're complete.
  6. When the brightness is set high, this can drain your battery more quickly. To lower it, open the Control Center on your iPad. Tap and drag the brightness meter down to the lowest setting.
  7. If you have Background App Refresh enabled, this could drain your battery as it's charging. Swipe up from the bottom of your screen (or double-press your Home button) to bring up all open apps. Swipe up to close them.
  8. This feature allows your iPad to refresh information in the background, even if you're not using it. [1] To turn it off, do the following:
    • Go to Settings .
    • Tap General .
    • Tap Background App Refresh .
    • Tap Background App Refresh again.
    • Tap Off .
  9. You can do a force restart , which requires a few extra buttons. Do the following:
    • Without a home button :
      • Press and release the volume button closest to the lock button.
      • Press and release the volume button farthest from the lock button.
      • Press and hold the lock button until the Apple logo appears.
    • With a home button :
      • Press and hold the Home button and lock button until the Apple logo appears.
  10. Make sure your iPad is updated . This provides common software bug fixes. Do the following:
    • Go to Settings .
    • Tap General .
    • Tap Software Update .
    • Tap Download and Install .
  11. In some cases, dirt and debris can be lodged in the charging port. You can clean the charging port with a dry, soft-bristled brush. Just be sure to turn off your iPad completely before doing so.
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Section 2 of 4:

Maximizing Battery Life

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  1. These updates often provide bug fixes and feature optimizations.
  2. This built-in feature can help preserve battery life. A prompt pops up to activate it when your device falls under 20%, but you can manually enable it even at full charge.
    • To do so, open Settings and tap Battery . Then, toggle on Low Power Mode .
  3. Leaving your iPad plugged in when it's fully charged can affect the battery.
  4. For optimal usage, use and store your iPad between 62° to 72° F (16° to 22° C).
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Section 3 of 4:

How long does an iPad take to charge?

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  1. This depends on the voltage of your charging block and the source of your power. For example, an iPad plugged into a wall outlet with a 20W charging cube will charge a lot faster than an iPad plugged into a 5W charging cube. It may also charge faster than plugging your iPad into a computer.
    • If you're trying to charge your iPad from 0% (dead), it can take about an hour for it to power on to 1% again.
Section 4 of 4:

Checking Battery Life

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  1. This is the grey cog icon.
    • iOS has a built-in setting that analyzes your battery usage and activity.
    • Be sure to update your iPad to the latest version.
  2. You can find this below Face ID & Passcode .
  3. You'll see a graph in the middle of the screen. This shows your average battery percentage throughout the day. At the bottom, you'll see a list of apps.
    • Tap Show Activity or Show Battery Usage next to the apps.
    • If an app has high battery usage, consider using the app less or closing it completely when you're finished with it.
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Community Q&A

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  • Question
    Can I lick the charging port to fix?
    Community Answer
    No. Licking it will make it worse. Instead, clean the charging port with a dry, soft-bristled brush.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/118408

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